I'd like to open up a discussion about whether we should respect all religious beliefs. I often hear people say that we should. But such people wouldn't give respect to all political beliefs. So why religious ones? And also, if a political or any belief is plain stupid, we would be foolish to credit it with respect wouldn't we? But it seems to me, some of the most ridiculous beliefs known to man are religious ones.
I think you'll find the best ones are all related to religion. I can't respect anything that I find ridiculous. This doesn't mean I don't respect the people that "believe", unless of course they put their religion before their humanity - then I can no longer relate to them at all. You can't spell believe without lie
Respect or disrespect for religious belief doesn't bother me at all... Unfortunately, the western God (most prevelant) and any other God for that matter is a product of the human mind. If there is a REAL God out there I highly doubt our beliefs and scriptures are even remotely on track in terms of being correct. Religion is and has always been a social tool. The best in human history, evident by the fact that it has worked for so long. I actually pity anyone whos mind is stuck in 9th century BC science when we have 3000 years of progress available to us. They believe what it is that they believe because they are uninformed and it works for them to some degree. Maybe one day they'll start thinking for themselves instead of being driven by fear of the hand of satan and cowering in their mind afraid to touch the controls. When that day comes (if it ever does), they'll see this too. That's why it doesn't bother me at all. The value of the skeptical/scientific approach is real. It doesn't need to be proselytized. No one needs to be threatened into believing it with eternal punishment. It's got intrinsic value and can be arrived at independently... Unlike snake oil smoke and mirrors. That's why it is so powerful and scares even those who claim to be "peaceful God fearing individuals" into carrying out horrible acts against their fellow humans in an effort to supress it. Muslims are stoned to death for even questioning their religion. Go figure.